The Homecoming Bride

Chapter Nine: Fade Into You

CHAPTER SONG: "Fade Into You" by Mazzy Star

"It feels wrong, leaving you like this." Emmy stayed in Will's embrace as they stood on the front porch, their arms holding one another tightly. The American brunette woman snuggled into the threaded material of his shirt, breathing in the pine musk of her beloved fiancé. "Will you be okay, baby? If that bastard comes back here..."

She looked up at Will as his fingertips gently tilted up her chin so her eyes would meet his own, her heart breaking at the seeing the pronounced bags underneath his beautiful eyes. His voice remained steady despite his exhausted demeanor. "Don't worry about me, my love. If anything else happens here, I'll deal with it. What matters to me is keeping those I care about safe from that man, including you."

"I wish you could come with me... but I understand why you want me away from the house. What happened last night..." She was unable to verbalize any further words to say on the subject as she stood on tiptoe to hug Will even tighter to her, feeling the soft waves of hair curling at his nape with her fingers. "I should've said it sooner, but I'm proud of you for defending me from him, even though he didn't actually hurt me."

Will leaned slightly down and kissed her forehead. "I'll always protect you, my Emmy. What kind of man would I be if I just stood by whilst James insulted you like that? But I'm proud of you as well, for standing your ground and showing him what you're made of. My strong, amazing Emmanuelle Julia Hunterson...Schofield."

He teasingly added her soon-to-be hyphenated name as she looked down in a flustered blush, feeling him lift up her hand to his lips and place a kiss on her knuckles.

Both of them looked up at the sound of Satine nickering with impatience as Joe turned from where he was situating Emmy's luggage in the rig. Will knew he owed the lieutenant so much when it came to her welfare from where they had first met at the Devons' camp in Flanders.

And for all that Lt. Joseph Blake had done for them, he had lost nearly everything...

"It'll be a week at most, darling. Do you need to take anything else with you to Joe's? I wish you had eaten something this morning...if you wish it, I can..." He was interrupted by her sudden action of pulling him down to her level so she could kiss him fully on his lips.

His eyes briefly widened in surprise before he was able to process the impulsive few seconds of her kissing him. On his own instinct, he reciprocated with equal passion and sensuality, his arms enfolding around her waist. He was tempted to lift her up off her feet so he wouldn't have to bend down, but the romantic thought vanished as the approaching footsteps of Joe brought the both of them back to reality.

"We'll need to leave soon, get you safely out of sight, dearest one." Joe's voice was riddled with urgency and worry as Will and Emmy turned to meet their friend's blue-eyed stare. "Cecilia and Giselle miss their Aunt Emmy and they'll need you after they've heard about Bucky."

"Yes, you're right, Joe." Emmy turned away from Will and nearly leapt down from the porch steps and embraced her friend. "I miss them a lot. And I really owe you for helping us."

"You owe me not a thing, Emmy." Joe's gruff tone softened as he looked down at her, squeezing her hands within his. "All that matters is that none of you are harmed and that bastard pays for what he's done."

They smiled silently at one another, noting the quiet absence of Will, who had gone back inside to presumably allow them a moment alone.

"All your bags are in the rig. I bet all that's in them are dresses. It makes my head spin, thinking how many bloody layers you ladies have to wear every day." Joe smirked jokingly as she playfully smacked him on the forearm.